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GSMNP Storm Damage

From the Smokies website

Storm Damage Closures
On Thursday June 13, 2013 a major thunderstorm produced heavy rains, high winds and a possible tornado in portions of Sevier and Cocke Counties in Tennessee. The following park facilities are temporarily closed:

Additional trails and facilities may be added to the closure list as the damage assessment continues.

Also this from yesterday:

A North Carolina National Guard helicopter crew tonight airlifted a 53-year-old hiker out of the back country of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after he broke his ankle when a tree hit him during a Thursday afternoon storm, officials said.

Nathan Lipsom of Cambridge, Mass., was carried out around 6:45 p.m. and taken to Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C., according to park spokeswoman Molly Schroer.

His condition was not available tonight.

Rangers earlier in the afternoon were working their way toward Lipsom, who suffered a broken ankle at about 4 p.m. Thursday while hiking on the Low Gap Trail south of the Appalachian Trail, Schroer said.

A back country ranger found him Friday morning while patrolling the trails around Cosby and Big Creek to assess storm damage.

A National Weather Service crew confirmed an EF-1 tornado hit the Cosby area during the storm. Damage to the trails around the Cosby and Big Creek areas prevented a ground team from reaching Lipsom in a reasonable amount of time for a carry-out operation, Schroer said.

A team of rangers cut away downed trees on the trail, and another team of rangers followed with a litter.

We found out when we arrived at Mt. Sterling Gap and saw the closure notice on the post. It was bad news, no way to restructure another hike because now all campsites are online reservation only-no internet connection at the Gap; did have cell but no one answered at the back-country office, so we drive back to Deep Creek-no one at the ranger station
Then worse news. We run into other hikers who saw the hiker who was injured when the tree hit him; then we readjusted attitudes and make lemon-aide out of our lemon.
That is twice we've made reservations, drove down and found out the trails and the campsites we'd chosen were closed. Either we're bad for the park or we need to spread out wings toward so many other destinations.

glad you two were ok and didn't get in that mess. Looks like that area may be shut down for a while.
I bet you can call the back country office and get your money back because of the situation. I am surprised you didn't get a call from them. That is one reason they want your number for times like this.

There are times that the only way you can do something is alone – that waiting on the convenience of others means that a lot of opportunities will pass you by
Spirit Walker

Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool.” ― Mark Twain

Who cares about showers, gourmet food, using flush toilets. Just keep on walking and being away from it all.